Prime Minister
Georgievski's address on the occasion of the suggestion
for considering changes in the Constitution of the RM

September 3, 2001

Macedonian Prime Minister
Ljubco Georgievski supported the Macedonian President's
initiative for starting a procedure on constitutional
changes, which is stipulated in the Framework Agreement,
and called on parliamentarians to vote for this proposal,
MIA reports.

"I have never thought the Macedonian Constitution
is the reason for the six-month crisis in the country.
Therefore, I do not consider that changing of the
Constitution by 35 amendments will bring peace in
Macedonia, Georgievski said late Monday, adding that
current and former governments were not responsible for
the crisis.

The Macedonian Constitution and the 35 amendments that
would be approved were a result of a military aggression
upon Macedonia in the last six months.

"I will not talk about all battles. I will just
mention the first one in Tanusevci, which was direct
attack from Kosovo, and the last one in Radusa, also a
border region, which was shelled from Kosovo. So, we must
say loud and clear that Macedonia has been imposed to a
military aggression for the last six months, despite the
fact that many local Albanians joined those groups. But
they also went to Kosovo first, becoming official members
of the Kosovo Protection Corps, and returning to
Macedonia after three months. So, now we are forced to
change the Constitution under the pressure of a military
aggression," Georgievski said.

Referring to terms for constitutional changes,
Georgievski said the initiative was presented under
direct pressure of violence and terror.

"Firstly, we have violated one of the most
significant standard of the international community,
giving great award to all terrorists in the world, that
we as Macedonia and the international community are
considering that terrorism is a profitable business. The
lessons we have learned for decades that terrorism may
not be awarded with meeting of a political goal are not
applicable for us. Unfortunately, we must confess that we
accept to give such an award. Secondly, we are to change
the Constitution when part of Macedonia's territory is
occupied. That is a fact that must be considered when we
discuss on successful surpassing of the crisis. The third
issue is that we must admit that from this moment on we
shall talk about the Prizren document. The difference
between the Framework Agreement and this document refers
only to the military service, i.e. the Prizren document
says that soldiers may serve their term at home -in their
native cities," Georgievski said.

According to him, Macedonia is facing military and
economic embargo, as all of its arrangements with the
financial institutions, as well as bilateral programs,
are being halted. He warned that in a few months, the
economic situation in the country would be seriously
worsened.

He expressed his disappointment with the international
community in regard to measures it had taken against the
terrorists, who killed, burned and destroyed in
Macedonia.

"Besides the list of terrorists who are
prohibited to enter into the United States, no other
measure against terrorism has been taken. On the other
hand, the pressure upon Macedonia is more then
evident," Georgievski said.

As a reason for supporting of the initiative for
constitutional changes, Georgevski referred to the
national unity.

"Since the emerging of the crisis in Tanusevci
until today, I, as a leader of VMRO-DPMNE, have no other
political rival but the NLA terrorists. Unfortunately, it
does not refer to all political parties and individuals
that participate in the Macedonian Government. When we
speak about Macedonia's future we must consider the lack
of unity among the Macedonian people, offering no
guarantee that if we keep fighting, something in that
respect will be improved," Georgievski said.

"So, if some part of Macedonia is occupied we
must defend and restore control over that part, if people
are being kidnapped and terrorized, we must protect them
with our security forces. Unfortunately, we did not mange
to be united even when dealing with such crucial
situations. I do not wish to call it a sabotage of the
state interests, maybe it is fear or inability. I also
refuse to think that it is a result of some party
interests," Georgievski said.

He pointed out that the Macedonian political parties
set four conditions for scheduling of a parliamentary
session on constitutional changes to the international
representatives on the day when the Framework Agreement
was signed. The conditions were: collecting of one third
of the weaponry, withdrawal of terrorists to their
positions of July 5, returning of displaced and kidnapped
persons to their homes, and durable cease-fire.
Unfortunately, only the first one of those conditions was
partially met, Georgievski said.

He also expressed his disagreement with the claim that
those parliamentarians who would vote against the
constitutional changes would be responsible for a war in
the country, adding he heard that accusation several
times not by Macedonian, but by foreign representatives.

"I do not think that those who will vote against
the constitutional changes should be considered guilty
for the Macedonian Constitution. However, I call on the
parliamentarians to vote for the changes because of a
very simple reason. Is it so easy for us to grant amnesty
to terrorists, and to tell to those who so easily killed
and destroyed in Macedonia that they were right, and if
they continue with their violence, they will be right
again because members of the Macedonian parliament are
guilty? " Georgievski asked.

According to him, all parliamentarians should bear the
responsibility if they vote against the changes, but
"it is said that the choir of international and
domestic experts will sing the same song, forgetting Ali
Ahmeti and his bloodthirsty people, and seeking the
guilty one among the Macedonian people."

For Georgievski, one of the reasons for adopting of
constitutional changes is the presence of NATO in
Macedonia.

"You have witnessed the NATO credibility when it
entered into Macedonia, despite the differences on
whether it is necessary to spend DM one billion for this
operation that will collect weaponry, worth DM two
million, and whether it requires 5,000 soldiers to
collect 3,300 pieces of weaponry. It is obvious that we
should not "gamble" with the NATO authority and
if the Alliance takes part in this game, we should accept
it and express out trust," Georgievski said.

Speaking about "war or peace" and the
conditions for constitutional changes, there was
unanswered question, which most probably could not be
answered by nobody, Georgievski said.

"Those who will refuse to vote and war happens
will be declared guilty for the war. I will rephrase the
question: what if all amendments are adopted and
terrorism does not stop in Macedonia, as well as violence
acts on our civilians. What if the displaced persons will
not return to their homes even after a year, along with
everything that means continuation of the war for
territories, which has begun in that manner and
unfortunately, will most probably end like that,"
Georgievski said.

Referring to the reasons for which the initiative for
constitutional changes should be adopted, Georgievski
said that all must understand that "the Republic of
Macedonia is a collateral damage of the NATO intervention
in 1999," reminding that the term was invented by
the international community "when the aerial bombs
by mistake hit trailers with Albanians and trains with
civilians."

"Unfortunately, voting for this initiative we
have to be aware that Macedonia is a collateral damage of
that intervention and we cannot expect those who made
that mistake in 1999, to admit it today. Unfortunately,
these are the conditions under which we are to commence
with this initiative," Georgievski said.

In his address, Georgievski also referred to the
coexistence between the Macedonians and Albanians in the
last ten years, which, as he said "is neither
written in the current Constitution, nor in the proposed
changes."

"Life between Macedonians and Albanians has not
been ideal for the last ten years, but I may say that
during the rule of this and former coalition Governments,
they have simply lived together. I do not know how many
years and generations should pass to bring back Macedonia
where it was six months ago, when we received compliments
from the international community and from the leaders of
Albanian political parties in Macedonia,"
Georgievski said.

In this respect, he said it was very difficult for him
to listen to the exchange of accusations between the
VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM.

"SDSM is accusing VMRO-DPMNE that it has made a
mistake or treason by passing the Laws on amnesty and
higher education, giving in to some individual demands,
even for the Kosovo crisis, while VMRO-DPMNE accuses SDSM
for granting 150.000 certificates for citizenship to
Albanians in 1994/95, including to Mr. Basilj Bajrami,
who was not entitled to the Macedonian citizenship, as
Belguim wanted him for murders. VMRO-DPMNE accuses SDSM
for granting Macedonian passports to politicians from
Kosovo because they were tortured by Slobodan Milosevic.
I will mention only one case in regard to Mr. Veton
Suroi, who got Macedonian passport in 1994/95, and who is
the main link today among the Macedonian politicians,
Albanian terrorists and the international monitors and is
the major "gray eminence" to everything that
has been happening in Macedonia," Georgievski said.

For him, all those cases are neither treason nor
mistake, but a confirmation "for the Macedonian
people's great heart, wishing to help to all of those who
are in trouble in a certain moment."

"I connect this Macedonian great heart with our
hospitality we have offered to 350.000 citizens of Kosovo
during the Kosovo crisis. It is neither treason nor
mistake, just a proof that the Macedonian people wish to
live with the Albanians as always throughout the history.
The problem, which is neither written in the current
Constitution, nor in its future changes, is how shall we
restore that trust," Georgievski said.